Page 33 of A Duke's Wicked Secret
“If I had not known because you told me, then I could truthfully say, no, I would not have any idea that you and Ms Ainsworth are involved whatsoever.”
“Well, that is a relief to hear. I felt like every glance I shared with her would be a complete giveaway as to our intentions for tonight.”
“No, you both were fine; you have nothing to worry about in that regard. I would wage that it is just a matter of time before the viscount changes his mind about you entirely!” Alexander stated emphatically.
***
Penelope awoke the next morning to the sounds of yet another thunderstorm outside and felt incredibly frustrated that for the second day in a row, the weather was working against her. She would again be unable to go ride and hopefully meet with Theo this morning. It was wonderful seeing him last night at the dinner party, but it had been close to pure torture to be in the same room as him and have to pretend that he meant nothing to her.
Well, since I cannot go out and ride this morning, I might as well try and fall back to sleep for a couple more hours, thought Penelope to herself as she flopped back down on her huge feather bed. Laying on her bed, Penelope studied the artistry of the ceiling décor as she had done hundreds of times before in an effort to fall asleep.
Instead of drifting off to slumber, her mind entered into thoughts of Theo, and doing so got her body tingling with excitement. So Penelope closed her eyes, pulled up her nightgown, and slowly began massaging herself between her open legs.
Soon she was growing extremely wet as she thought of Theo and what it would be like to have him enjoying himself as he ate from her succulent dripping fruit, and when he would look up at her with those dark blue eyes was just too much for Penelope, and she had an orgasm so intense that as she reached the highest heights Penelope’s back arched while her hand was down inside of her and her other hand gripped her full round breast and played with her hardened nipple.
After the waves of relief and pleasure slowed, and her heart stopped pounding in her head, Penelope pushed her nightgown back down, curled up under her quilts, and soon dreamed happily. She did not stir until her handmaiden entered the room and opened the curtains saying that breakfast would be served shortly.
“Good morning, Bessie, thank you. I will be down soon.” Penelope yawned as she stretched in her bed.
“I am sorry you were not able to ride again this morning, mistress. I know how much you look forward to them each day, especially lately.”
“Why do you say that, Bessie?” asked Penelope doing her best to hide her alarm at this statement.
“I just know you have had a lot weighing on your mind this season with so many suitors. I am sorry if I spoke out of turn, mistress. I did not mean to offend.”
“No, you did not, Bessie. You have nothing to apologise for. It has been a busy season, and my morning rides have been one of the only places I have found refuge. So, you are correct.” Penelope smiled and got out of bed so Bessie could strip the bedclothes to be washed today.
After breakfast concluded, the rainstorm finally let up, and the sun came out. Georgina said that she fancied a stroll in the gardens, and Penelope agreed that it would be nice after two days cooped up inside.
As they walked arm in arm along the extensive gardens' pebble pathways, Penelope deeply breathed in the sweet fresh smell of spring after a good long wash. She loved how everything looked as though it was covered in diamonds from the rain droplets and how they glistened in the sunlight after it rained.
When they were sufficiently far enough away from the house and sure that no one was around, Georgina brought up last night’s dinner.
“I am so pleased with how everything went according to plan last night. And Mr Alexander told me when we had a moment together that your father has agreed to go hunting with the two of them this Saturday!”
“That is so wonderful to hear. I also am very hopeful that things will change for the duke and me very soon. Do you think that my mother and father were shown a better image of who he truly is last night? I mean, do you think he began to get through to them that he is not mad?” Penelope asked.
“Well, it is hard to say for sure, especially concerning your father. He is so hard to read, but I would say yes, it was a very good beginning, and I feel like they would be hard-pressed to hold onto the lie that the duke is unstable after spending more time with him.”
“I truly hope so …” Penelope said as she drifted back into her inner thoughts and worries.
“Pen, stop fretting. It is all going to be perfect, you will see. You will marry the duke and I will marry my Alexander, and we shall have lots of beautiful babies and grow old together just as we have always planned!”
“Oh, Georgie, you are such a dreamer, but I would love that to be the future for us more than anything else in this world. But keep in mind both of these gentlemen have yet to ask us for our hand in marriage,” Penelope remarked in an attempt not to fall too far into the world of fancy Georgina was currently in.
“Posh, that is merely a formality. It will most certainly happen. Just you wait and see. Why I would even be willing to predict that you and I have a double wedding? Mark my words,” said Georgina in her sweet, carefree way that Penelope admired so much about her friend.
“Come on, let us head back indoors. I am feeling a bit parched and would like a glass of something cool to drink,” Penelope suggested. With that, the two girls turned about and walked back in the direction they had just come from.
After Penelope and Georgina had practised their music, they were free to do whatever they wished, and Penelope asked her mother for permission to go to the market.
“What do you need there, Penelope? Why can you not just have your handmaiden go for you instead?” Penelope’s mother questioned.
“I know that she could, but, Mamma, we have free time, and Georgina and I have not been able to go anywhere. Could we not take the chaise with Ms Brown and go shopping for some new silk ribbons and such things?”
“I suppose there is no harm if you promise to be careful,” Penelope’s mother agreed.
“Oh, thank you, Mamma. We shan’t be too long!”
